State and Government in Ancient India c18.s1.15

c18.s1.15

and watch and ward. Life was much more unsettled in ancient times, and owing to slow communications the help of the Central Government could not be always expected at the nick of time when there were sudden raids of bandits and robbers. The villagers therefore had to be self-reliant in defence.¹ We often come across the headman and members of the village militia laying down their lives while defending their village.²